(THIS IS A DEEP STUDY)
Romans 2:1 No matter who you are, if you judge anyone, you have no excuse. When you judge another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.
Moralist—Judging Others—Criticism: the moralist. In the eyes of Scripture a moralist is a person who lives a moral and clean life, but he judges others because they do not live as he thinks they should. He is moral, upright, just, good, decent, and honorable. The moralist has strong values, standards, and principles. He is well disciplined and able to control his life. He lives just as everyone thinks he should. He knows right from wrong and he lives it. He knows how to behave and he does it. In the eyes of society he is just what a person should be. He is a good neighbor, an excellent worker and provider, and an ideal citizen. But note three things.
a. The moralist judges others. The word judge (krino) means to criticize, to find fault, to condemn. This is the terrible flaw of the moralist. Note: any person becomes a moralist when he sets himself up as a judge of others. Any time we judge another person, we are declaring that we …
• are living by some rule that another person is not living by
• are more moral than someone else
• are better than someone else
• are superior to someone else
• are more righteous than someone else
• are more acceptable to God than someone else
Judging others says, “I am right, and he is not. I succeed, but he fails.” Therefore …
• “Look at me, but ignore him”
• “Draw near to me, but shun him”
• “Esteem me, but put him down”
• “Approve me, but condemn him”
• “Be my friend, but withdraw from him”
Very simply, judging others raises self and lowers others, exalts self and debases others; and in the eyes of God this is wrong. It is sin. It is being full of self-righteousness, pride, and arrogance. It sets self up as a moralist, and it makes a person judgmental and critical.
“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Mt. 7:1).
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand” (Ro. 14:4).
“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” (Ro. 14:13).
“There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” (Js. 4:12).
b. The moralist is inexcusable, and he condemns himself because he does the very same things. He fails just as the man whom he judges fails. Scripture says …
“Thou that judgest doest the same things” (Ro. 2:1).
“[All] temptation is common to man” (1 Co. 10:13).
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment” (Mt. 5:21–22).
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Mt. 5:27–28).
In God’s eyes, sin is a matter of the heart and mind, not just an act. The thought and desire makes a person just as guilty as the act itself. God knows that many would carry out their thoughts if they had the courage or opportunity. God knows the heart, the mind, and the thoughts. Sin, whether thoughts in the mind or acts in public, comes short of God’s glory. All stand guilty before God; therefore, the moralist, the person who judges, is as guilty as the one judged. It is for this reason that we are not to judge, criticize, and find fault with others.
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Mt. 7:3).
“Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?” (Ro. 2:21–22).
“But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” (Ga. 2:14).
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Tit. 1:16).
Thought 1. This point does not mean that judicial systems of the state are wrong nor that discipline is not to be exercised within families, organizations, and the church. Scripture teaches that both justice and discipline are to be exercised by men. What Scripture means is this: we are not to go around criticizing and finding fault with each other and putting each other down when one of us fails. Instead we are to reach out and try to redeem and help each other. Imagine what a different world this would be if all tongues were stopped! If all criticism and fault-finding ceased! If everyone actually reached out and tried to redeem and save those who failed!
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Ga. 6:1–2).
“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations [to criticize and judge]” (Ro. 14:1).
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Ro. 15:1).
“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Co. 9:22).
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men” (1 Th. 5:14).
“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” (Js. 2:15–16).
“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (Js. 3:10).
LET ME KNOW IF YOU ENJOYED THIS DEEP STUDY. DO YOU FEEL THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE DEEP STUDIES?
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
http://www.youtube.com/@andrahigginbotham8096
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM